Texas Tech Shutout TCU 2-0

10/04/2013 11:24 PM

10/04/2013 11:26 PM

LUBBOCK, Texas - Two first half goals propelled No. 14 Texas Tech to a 2-0 shutout victory over TCU Friday night as the Red Raiders extended their unbeaten streak to nine straight in front of more than 1,600 fans at the John Walker Soccer Complex.

LUBBOCK, Texas - Two first half goals propelled No. 14 Texas Tech to a 2-0 shutout victory over TCU Friday night as the Red Raiders extended their unbeaten streak to nine straight in front of more than 1,600 fans at the John Walker Soccer Complex.

With the victory, the Red Raiders improve to 11-1-1 and 2-0-1 in Big 12 play while the Texas Tech defense, which entered the match No. 4 nationally with a .750 shutout percentage, posted its 10th shutout of the season. The Red Raiders held the Horned Frog offense to just four shots on the night, while the pair of goals came from sophomore Alli Murphy and freshman Maddy Crabtree.

"We created a lot of chances," Texas Tech head coach Tom Stone said after the match. "I thought our forwards did an outstanding job today, and that really helped us. Both goals tonight were class and we were excited to go into the half up 2-0."

Early in the opening half, Murphy took a well-placed cross from teammate Jaelene Hinkle on the far side and finished with a strike from just atop the six-yard box. The goal gave the Red Raiders a quick 1-0 lead in the 19th minute of play on just Tech's second shot of the match. Hinkle, a unanimous preseason All-Big 12 defender, earned her second assist of the season while Murphy eventually picked up her second game-winner of the year.

Tech would go on to control possession for the remainder of the half, stuffing the TCU attack and posting a dominant 11-0 advantage in shot attempts.

One of those shots came in the 39th minute when a header by Hannah Devine deflected off the cross bar and found an open Crabtree just inside the six-yard box. Crabtree handled the deflection and sent a header of her own past TCU goalkeeper Vittoria Arnold to give the Red Raiders a 2-0 lead.

Devine's initial header was set up by a long and well placed corner kick from the far side off the foot of Murphy.

"She [Devine] had a free header and Crabtree did what Crabtree does," Stone head. "She followed it up and finished on her chance."

Texas Tech went on to shutout the Horned Frogs in the second half to earn their second-straight victory over TCU in Lubbock. Texas Tech now enters Sunday's match against Arkansas Pine Bluff in sole possession of second place in the Big 12 with seven total points.

Senior goalkeeper Victoria Esson picked up her ninth shutout of the season and the 23rd of her career with Friday's victory. She made two saves on the night - both of which came in the second half.

Texas Tech will formally recognize a senior class of eight Red Raiders prior to Sunday's match, which has a scheduled first kick of 1 p.m. at the John Walker Soccer Complex.

Copyright 2013 Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.